Sources close to Real say the Spain international striker has indicated he would be open to a move back to the Bernabeu and that the La Liga giants will ask City if they can take him permanently or on loan with a view to a move next summer.

Negredo, who is sidelined for another four or five weeks with a fractured metatarsal, will be fourth-choice striker at the champions this season – with Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic all ahead of him in the pecking order.

(Image: PA)

And the player – nicknamed The Beast – has told manager Manuel Pellegrini he is not ­happy that he will struggle for games in the Premier League when he is fit again.

The forward scored 23 goals in his debut season at the Etihad, helping them win the League Cup and Premier League title.

City value Negredo at ­£20million, while Real want to negotiate a transfer fee of £15m.

Negredo spent two years playing for Real Madrid B from 2005-07 but could not make the breakthrough into the first team and joined Almeria and then Sevilla - where he made his name.